Simple Decorating Ideas for Your Country Decor

If you have been looking for some inexpensive ideas for decorating and are some what crafty with your hands, then this trendy style and simple how to just might be the answer youv'e been looking for.

I have been designing and crafting primitives for many years. It is a great outlet for your imagination and creativity as well as an opportunity to customize your home decor. If you love the look of country and a cozy , welcoming enviroment you can give your entire home or just a private space or room an inexpensive make over.

Starting out most people are curious to know exactly what are primitives? Think back to the 1800's, a time when people didn't have modern conviences. Many lived in log homes with very little space, no running water, electricity or heat. They had to grow their own vegetables, raise their meat and find ways to make their lives more comfortable.

That's what is known as primitive, items you might have found in or around the homes of our great, great great ancestors. They are items that were made by hand with very little to work with. Many items were considered to be make do's. It means exactly what it sounds like. It is making do with the items you have on hand or laying around. They can be made from all types of materials. Old clothing, buttons, wood, paint, metal etc. The best thing is there are no rules and the item does not need to be perfect. In fact you want it to have that hand made appearance.

Let's start with the main features of a room. These are items you may already have or can pick up reasonable at garage/estate sales, thrift stores, used furniture stores etc. Anything and everything wood. Old wood chairs whether to sit cozy in a corner or grouped together for dining and yes mismatched works great. An old wood dining table, end tables, bed frames, bookshelves or cupboards are useful furniture options. Be sure they are sturdy structures or reinforce them with wood glue screws or brads. Next lightly sand just enough to remove loose particles. Any sand paper will do, I like to use a medium grade. After sanding wipe the item down with a damp cloth and let dry. Next we are going to give them a well worn aged appearance. This is a 3 step process. Paint on a base coat of latex or acrylic depending on the size of the item, let it dry thoroughly. Next paint on a crackle medium which can be found at any craft or home improvement store. Let it dry thoroughly. The last step is applying the contrasting top coat color. The color choices are endless. Choose your favorite colors but try to keep them subtle. Remeber you want that old aged look. You can use a dark color for the base and a lighter color for the top coat or vise versa. Once the top coat has dried completely you will notice the wonderful crackling appearance that has evolved! You can also purchase premade crackling kits but for large items it can be a bit more costly.

This not only works well for furnishings but is perfect for creating rustic signs. You can use old planks or purchase unfinished wood perfect for signs at any craft store. Be sure to add any lettering or scripts to the final top coat. You can use stencils or paint it free hand with acrylics. Add sayings or words that fit the theme. A few ideas: Simple Times-Spices & Herbs- Bath House- Live Love Laugh. Be creative and add a touch of personality. These signs can be hung with exposed hangers made from wire, twine, cloth etc or you can add a simple hook to the backside.

Accents a plenty. These are only limited by your imagination! Fill old jars with colorful old buttons for display on shelves and cupboards. Fill old wood or pottery bowls with potpourri. Display candles on metal mason jar lids. Fill wooden boxes and crates with dried flowers. Display an old handmade quilt. If you are good at sewing consider rag dolls for display. . Buy premade doilies or linens or create your own, using cotton fabrics with or with out designs in light colors. Cut the size or shape that you prefer hand stitch the edges with a top stitch about 1/8 th to 1/4 inch all the way around or if sewings not your thing just fray the edges. You can soak the items in tea or coffee mixed with a bit of yummy cinnamon. I prefer instant coffee cheap brands work just fine. I usually add three to four heaping teaspoons per 1 cup water bring to a simmer then add a tsp of cinnamon. For larger items double or triple the recipe. Insert the cloth and simmer on low for 10 to 15 mins or desired color. This process will add a brown aged tinted look to the cloth and it smells heavenly. Instant aged linens! Also great for aging pillow covers for display. For more pillow ideas try sewing on old buttons or add some simple embroidery, find free old photos online and print them onto iron on sheets available at walmart, office supply stores etc. Iron onto the fabric after it has been aged but before you sew the shape or fill the pillow. This iron on method works great for creating old style art for accenting the walls. Use heavy duty card board (stiff) Cut to the size of an old frame, cut the fabric a 1/4" larger than the cardboard, age the fabric , iron on you transfer then glue the edges to the backside of the cardboard. Insert into the wooden frame WAH LAH! Instant antique art.

Well I could go on and on, but I am sure you get the concept. I hope this gives you some new ideas for your home decor. Remember you are only limited by your imagination. So have some fun and go for it!